The Vikings placed WR Adam Thielen on the COVID list.

Related players: Justin Jefferson, Chad Beebe, Olabisi Johnson

It's not clear whether or not Thielen tested positive or if he was in close contact with someone who did. Thielen will now have to test negative for the virus throughout the week in order to have a chance at playing in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. It's a potential huge loss for the Vikings. Jefferson would run as the team's WR1 with Beebe and Johnson moving up the depth chart.

Kirk Cousins has now targeted Adam Thielen or Justin Jefferson with 51 of his 100 passes this season, and even as Stefon Diggs thrives with a 4-0 Bills team, Jefferson is quickly showing he can join Thielen as the kind of downfield option Cousins enjoyed with Diggs. Jefferson is tied for the league lead with eight catches of 20 yards or more.

The story is about how Cousins is starting to trust Jefferson. This was a situation every QB and rookie WR were faced with after COVID-19 changed training camps and eliminated preseason games. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before Cousins and Jefferson would get on the same page, and after back-to-back 100-yard games for Jefferson, the duo seems to be on their way.

Sunday's glimpse at the offense without Stefon Diggs, who was traded to the Bills in the offseason, showed the Vikings still need to find an electric deep ball player. Diggs was often the receiver clearing out for Adam Thielen or catching the ball over the top on deep post or go-routes off play-action. That player could very well become rookie Justin Jefferson, who has 4.43 speed. But in Jefferson's debut, the first-round receiver had two catches for 26 yards in 36 snaps. The only receiver to come close to Thielen's total was No. 2 Bisi Johnson, who had three catches for 56 yards.

Thielen had a great game without Diggs, going over 100 yards and adding two TDs in the process. But it looks like the Vikings will need another WR to step up at some point soon this season. As the story said, the Vikings offense needs time to get into a rhythm. Last season, the Vikings were 8-0 when they had at least 30 minutes in time of possession, but 2-6 in games when they had less than that, according to ESPN.

Source: Former #Titans WR Tajae Sharpe is signing with the #Vikings on 1-year deal. He’ll likely be the No. 2 alongside Adam Thielen, filling the void left by the Stefon Diggs trade.

With Stefon Diggs in Buffalo, Tajae Sharpe could find himself as the WR2 in Minnesota, but they will probably draft another wideout as well. The former Titan has a career line of 92-1,167-8 in 47 games (29 starts).

#Vikings WR Adam Thielen needed stitches for a bad cut on his ankle suffered in practice Wednesday, sources say. The initial prognosis was encouraging for his chances of playing Saturday against the #49ers, but they’re still gathering information and will proceed with caution.

With Stefon Diggs already dealing with some sort of sickness, this could be a blow to the Vikings passing game. However, with a game of this much significance, it's tough to see Thielen not getting out there on Saturday. For now, 4for4's John Paulsen has Diggs as WR8 and Thielen as WR10 for the divisional round.